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  • Is Dune Awakening down? Server status right now

    Is Dune Awakening down? Server status right now


    Is Dune Awakening down? While we still love single-player games, but there’s also something to be said for the chaotic joy to be had in multiplayer experiences – especially massively multiplayer ones.

    One of the few downsides that comes with playing with friends and strangers around the world is the instability of online servers. As a survival MMO, Dune Awakening could be victim to severe server downtime, so if you’re struggling to get into Arrakis, that could be why. Here, we’ve got the latest on maintenance in the crafting game, and the current Dune Awakening server status.

    An in-game message showing no Dune Awakening servers found.

    Dune Awakening server status

    The Dune Awakening servers will be down for maintenance on Sunday June 8 from 1am PDT / 4am EDT / 9am BST / 10am CEST. The downtime is expected to last for two hours, but develop Funcom says it will bring servers back online as soon as the patching process is complete.

    Funcom adds, “Please note that, for the first few days, we may patch daily and will try to stick to a similar maintenance time.” While the game launched into early access on Thursday June 5 at 7am PDT / 10am EDT / 3pm BST / 4am CEST, some players are having trouble finding any available servers.

    If this is the case for you, the game’s official X profile has shared some suggestions. The first is that Steam may have incorrectly loaded the day one patch. In this case, simply try restarting your game.

    Meanwhile, if you played the beta, you could still be connecting to beta regions, so click ‘Change Region’ to double-check you’re in the right place.

    The Dune Awakening server launch times for early access and release.

    Early access is available ahead of the Dune Awakening release date on Tuesday, June 10 for players who have preordered the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition of the game. If you want to get online early, you can upgrade your standard edition copy, or purchase one of these editions if you don’t already own the game.

    So, that’s the latest on the Dune Awakening server status. If you can’t get online right now, you could try a Dune Awakening private server. Alternatively, you can always have a go at some of our other favorite survival games, or peruse our list of upcoming PC games on the horizon.



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  • Ludology: TTRPGKids Ep 20

    Ludology: TTRPGKids Ep 20


    Welcome!

    Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the hows and whys of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, as well as discuss game history, game design and game players.

    We post a new Ludology episode every other week. In these episodes, hosts Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim deep-dive into a single topic within game design, often with a well-regarded guest from the game industry. We generally focus on tabletop game design (mainly board games and RPGs), but we often pull in experts from all forms of games, from video games to escape rooms to slot machines.

    On weeks where there is no flagship Ludology episode, we will alternate between two smaller mini-sodes. Erica and Sen are happy to announce that Sarah Shipp of Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell of TTRPGKids will be joining us for the next year, providing additional content between our longer episodes.

    Sarah’s segment, Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, is a monthly feature that dives deeper into the other aspects of games beyond the dice and cards we’re all familiar with.

    Stephanie’s segment, TTRPGKids, explores how parents and teachers can use role playing games with children in the home and in the classroom.

    We hope you enjoy the additional content!

    Our History

    We aim for most Ludology episodes to be timeless, so you are welcome to explore our entire catalog. Most of it should age quite well. The podcast was started in 2011 by Geoff Engelstein and Ryan Sturm, with Mike Fitzgerald taking over for Ryan in 2015. Gil and Scott joined the show in 2017 when Mike stepped aside, and Emma joined in 2019 when Geoff ended his tenure as host. Emma left in 2021, and Erica and Sen joined us. Since then, Scott stepped down in 2022 and Gil will be hanging up his mic in 2023, leaving Erica and Sen to carry on this amazing legacy.

    Erica and Sen are working to bring new voices to Ludology and have some great things to announce as gaming expands to include even more people!

    Contact Us 

    Have your own thoughts about our topics? We encourage you to visit us at our guild on Boardgamegeek to get involved in a continuing discussion.

    You can also email us at hello@ludology.net.

    Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.

    If you have questions that you’d like answered on Ludology, let us know by filling out this Google Form; you can also leave an audio question that we can use on the show, if you wish! 

    Burning Questions for Ludology

    Burning Question

    Support the Show

    Ludology is made possible through the support and donations of listeners like you.

    We currently have 3 “First Listen” series that will go out to Patrons well in advance of the audio being released to the wider audience.

    • The Memories that Made Us (monthly) – memories about gaming experiences that helped shape the people that bring modern games to life
    • Tales from the Designer Toolbox (monthly) – tips and tricks from industry pros learned from both success and failure
    • Ludology Live – recordings from conventions around the world

    Patrons will also get extra consideration for any giveaways that we might have!

    Become a Ludology Patron

    Become a patron

    You can also make a one-time or monthly donation here. The link will take you to Erica’s account. People who donate in this way will not have access to the Patreon page – sorry!





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  • Ludology 336 Roll For Learning

    Ludology 336 Roll For Learning


    Welcome!

    Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the hows and whys of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, as well as discuss game history, game design and game players.

    We post a new Ludology episode every other week. In these episodes, hosts Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim deep-dive into a single topic within game design, often with a well-regarded guest from the game industry. We generally focus on tabletop game design (mainly board games and RPGs), but we often pull in experts from all forms of games, from video games to escape rooms to slot machines.

    On weeks where there is no flagship Ludology episode, we will alternate between two smaller mini-sodes. Erica and Sen are happy to announce that Sarah Shipp of Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell of TTRPGKids will be joining us for the next year, providing additional content between our longer episodes.

    Sarah’s segment, Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, is a monthly feature that dives deeper into the other aspects of games beyond the dice and cards we’re all familiar with.

    Stephanie’s segment, TTRPGKids, explores how parents and teachers can use role playing games with children in the home and in the classroom.

    We hope you enjoy the additional content!

    Our History

    We aim for most Ludology episodes to be timeless, so you are welcome to explore our entire catalog. Most of it should age quite well. The podcast was started in 2011 by Geoff Engelstein and Ryan Sturm, with Mike Fitzgerald taking over for Ryan in 2015. Gil and Scott joined the show in 2017 when Mike stepped aside, and Emma joined in 2019 when Geoff ended his tenure as host. Emma left in 2021, and Erica and Sen joined us. Since then, Scott stepped down in 2022 and Gil will be hanging up his mic in 2023, leaving Erica and Sen to carry on this amazing legacy.

    Erica and Sen are working to bring new voices to Ludology and have some great things to announce as gaming expands to include even more people!

    Contact Us 

    Have your own thoughts about our topics? We encourage you to visit us at our guild on Boardgamegeek to get involved in a continuing discussion.

    You can also email us at hello@ludology.net.

    Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.

    If you have questions that you’d like answered on Ludology, let us know by filling out this Google Form; you can also leave an audio question that we can use on the show, if you wish! 

    Burning Questions for Ludology

    Burning Question

    Support the Show

    Ludology is made possible through the support and donations of listeners like you.

    We currently have 3 “First Listen” series that will go out to Patrons well in advance of the audio being released to the wider audience.

    • The Memories that Made Us (monthly) – memories about gaming experiences that helped shape the people that bring modern games to life
    • Tales from the Designer Toolbox (monthly) – tips and tricks from industry pros learned from both success and failure
    • Ludology Live – recordings from conventions around the world

    Patrons will also get extra consideration for any giveaways that we might have!

    Become a Ludology Patron

    Become a patron

    You can also make a one-time or monthly donation here. The link will take you to Erica’s account. People who donate in this way will not have access to the Patreon page – sorry!





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  • Ultimate Crystal of Atlan Class Tier List

    Ultimate Crystal of Atlan Class Tier List


    Crystal of Atlan is officially out, and as an MMORPG, it allows you to choose from a variety of different classes. There are five characters to choose from, but each one can specialize into at least two subclasses. We’ve been messing around with the game even before the official launch, and we’re proud to bring you our ultimate Crystal of Atlan Class Tier List.

    Crystal of Atlan Best Overall Class Tier List

    A Crystal of Atlan Class Tier List
    Image via TierMaker / Remix by The Escapist

    For this Crystal of Atlan tier list, we evaluated every character class, measuring their overall DPS, Survivability, Support, PvP capabilities, and usefulness while in a party.

    S-Tier

    Class Info

    Warlock    		 The Warlock is one of the best classes in Crystal of Atlan as it’s excellent at PvP and PvE content with his spells, debuffs, and overall damage.
    However, once he transforms he suddenly skyrockets to the top of the DPS charts.
    Even with lousy armor, a transformed Warlock does insane damage.
    With so many tricks up his sleeve, we had no choice but to put him here.

    Scytheguard    		 If you want a class that can do just about anything, this is the class for you.
    The Scytheguard is mainly a support unit, but she is great in the front lines, can do some great crowd control.
    She is also a great healer, which always comes in handy whether you are playing solo or in a party.
    She can’t dish out as much damage, but she makes up for it in almost all other areas.

    A-Tier

    Class Info

    Berserker    		 If all you care about is dishing out melee damage and dominating the front lines, the Berserker is the class for you.
    Extremely powerful DPS, great mobility, and an absolute God at PvP.
    He’s somewhat lacking when it comes to his support abilities and can be outsmarted by a ranged unit.
    A great pick for a starter character.

    Cloudstrider    		 Somewhat difficult to play, but a fantastic Class if you can master her playstyle.
    With the Cloudstrider, you can switch between all the different elements to take advantage of the enemy’s weakness.
    She is fast-paced, she can move around the battlefield a lot, and her moves just look amazing.
    She is great in PvP too, but she isn’t the tankiest character.

    Starbreaker    		 Starbreaker does some devastating damage, and she is pretty tanky.
    If you get her in the frot lines, she can be an absolute beast with DPS.
    Her biggest problem is that she is slow. Her movement is slow, and her attacks need a second to charge.
    Because of this, she isn’t great at PvP, but in almost every other aspect, she is amazing.

    B-Tier

    Class Info

    Blademaiden    		 If you position her correctly because of her puppet, the Blademaiden can do a lot of damage, maybe even more than other classes.
    Unfortunately, if she isn’t positioned correctly, she lacks a lot. She is not tanky at all, and she can be easily overwhelmed in PvP.
    If you’re playing in a group, she is a great pick for extra damage.

    Magician    		 The ultimate support character. Unfortunately, there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to mastering the Magician.
    His abilities are super useful, and can save the entire party if done right. However, when it comes to dishing out damage, and surviving, he’s lacking a bit.
    Magicians are great at PvP and are overall a lot of fun to play, if you can handle their shortcomings.

    Bounty Hunter    		 Bounty Hunters use their guns to attack from a relatively safe distance.
    If you like to play ranged units, this is the one for you. She excels in group combat but reveals her glass-cannon nature when surrounded by enemies.
    She is still a lot of fun to play with and is a great asset when in a group.

    Magiblade    		 The Magiblade is a great class if you don’t want to be a melee but still leave a bit of room between you and the enemy.
    He is super easy to play, and a great pick for a first character. Unfortunately, once you get to the endgame, you realize that he isn’t amazing at anything.
    Decent damage, decent mobility, okay tankiness, but there are just better classes out there.
    Still, don’t sleep on the Magiblade if you like the combat style, because it can be a lot of fun.

    C-Tier

    Class Info

    Elementalist    		 Under the right circumstances, the Elementalist is great. He can clear small groups of enemies and exploit their weaknesses.
    On the other hand, he isn’t very mobile, can get interrupted easily, and just isn’t great if there isn’t a group backing him up.
    If you don’t mind the squishy and stationary nature, the Elementalist is still a lot of fun.

    Gunner    		 Gunner is great when she is in a party and casts her AoE abilities.
    Unfortunately, she lacks in almost any other aspect. She is too slow for PvP, her abilities aren’t varied, and she just can’t seem to catch a break with DPS.
    We’re confident the Gunner is going to get a major buff soon.

    That’s all there is to our Crystal of Atlan tier list. Have fun playing and don’t be afraid to try out other classes, even if we put them lower on our tier list. Check out our Crystal of Atlan codes for free rewards.

    The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy



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  • The Reports of Our Death Have Been Mildly Exaggerated – The TouchArcade Show #612 – TouchArcade


    Hark, a new podcast is afoot? ‘Tis true, and it has been A WHILE, friends. Ten weeks to be exact. How have you been? I love what you’ve done with your hair. How about this weather we’re having? Ok, enough small talk, let’s get into this latest episode. Eli and I discuss what the hell we’ve been up to for the past two and a half months, and spoiler alert: It’s nothing terribly exciting. Just damned busy and/or sick. We also talk about our latest retro handhelds. I personally am having a love affair with the Retroid Pocket 5, and also picked up a Miyoo A30 just as an extremely cheap and extremely pocketable option. Eli has to GBA SP-alikes, the Miyoo Flip and the Anbernic RGXSomething or another (their naming conventions are pretty terrible). Next we share our thoughts on the controversial reveal of the Switch 2 and finish things off with some good old fashioned VR discussion. Sorry for the long wait, but it feels great to be back.

    Don’t forget to shoot us emails with any questions, feedback, or anything else relevant or irrelevant to [email protected]. We read ’em all, and love decoding messages written entirely in emoji. As always, you can listen to us with the links below… And if you like what you hear, please subscribe and/or drop us a review in iTunes. Much appreciated!

    As a companion to this audio podcast, we also do a video version of the same show that is exclusive to Patreon which allows you to see us playing the games we’re talking about. Backers can view the most recent video episodes of the TouchArcade show by clicking here. Be sure you’re logged in to see the latest content. For everyone else who is curious, you can check out our public patreon posts to see older episodes of the video podcast. If you like what you see, consider becoming a TouchArcade Patreon backer.


    Stitcher: The TouchArcade Show via Stitcher Radio for Podcasts
    RSS Feed: The TouchArcade Show

    Direct Link: TouchArcadeShow-612.mp3

     



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  • As the Hollow Knight Silksong wait continues, try gorgeous new Metroidvania MIO

    As the Hollow Knight Silksong wait continues, try gorgeous new Metroidvania MIO


    With no more than a passing mention at the Summer Game Fest showcase, the wait for Hollow Knight Silksong feels more agonizing than ever. A week of backend Steam updates have raised anticipation to the max, and we’re tingling for news. There’s still a chance; the Xbox Games event on Sunday would be a reasonable place for it to appear, given its presence on Game Pass. But rather than waiting, why not satisfy those action platformer cravings with stunning new Metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit, which you can try for free right now courtesy of a just-released demo.

    Built by French developer Douze Dixièmes and published by Space Marine 2 studio Focus Entertainment, MIO: Memories in Orbit is the perfect salve to those Metroidvania cravings. It’s absolutely beautiful, captivating the eye from first glance with its detailed environments. As the eponymous MIO, a nimble robot that’s awoken in an abandoned technological ark called The Vessel, you must set out to attempt to prevent the ship’s shutdown, revive its lost memories, and discover who you are.

    The Vessel is a living organism that plays home to a range of diverse ecosystems. In true Metroidvania fashion, you’ll gradually unlock new ways to traverse the environment and access new areas – a grappling hook, wall clinging, gliding, and so on. MIO can enhance their abilities by scavenging components from defeated enemies or the world, offering a wealth of build options. You could employ your grapple to evade or wield it as an offensive lasso, for example, or sacrifice your shield to earn a damage boost.

    YouTube Thumbnail

    With more than 30 enemy types to discover and 15 battles against the guardians that roam The Vessel, you’ll need to carefully consider how you adapt to each fight and counter your opponent’s strengths. It looks pretty magnificent, and now feels like the perfect time to give it a shot before the inevitable wave of Silksong hype actually crashes over us. A new demo has just landed on Steam, allowing you to get an early taste without spending a thing.

    The MIO: Memories in Orbit demo is out now on Steam. The full game is scheduled to launch in 2025. Head here to download it. Douze Dixièmes warns that its gentle looks belie a challenging game: “Expect to die. A lot!” The developer does note, however, that difficulty settings are included in the demo version if you’d like a less stressful experience.

    Alternatively, we’ve rounded up the best action games and the best platform games on PC right now to ensure you’ve got plenty of options.

    You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.



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  • Thinking Beyond Mechanisms Ep 16

    Thinking Beyond Mechanisms Ep 16


    Welcome!

    Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the hows and whys of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, as well as discuss game history, game design and game players.

    We post a new Ludology episode every other week. In these episodes, hosts Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim deep-dive into a single topic within game design, often with a well-regarded guest from the game industry. We generally focus on tabletop game design (mainly board games and RPGs), but we often pull in experts from all forms of games, from video games to escape rooms to slot machines.

    On weeks where there is no flagship Ludology episode, we will alternate between two smaller mini-sodes. Erica and Sen are happy to announce that Sarah Shipp of Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell of TTRPGKids will be joining us for the next year, providing additional content between our longer episodes.

    Sarah’s segment, Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, is a monthly feature that dives deeper into the other aspects of games beyond the dice and cards we’re all familiar with.

    Stephanie’s segment, TTRPGKids, explores how parents and teachers can use role playing games with children in the home and in the classroom.

    We hope you enjoy the additional content!

    Our History

    We aim for most Ludology episodes to be timeless, so you are welcome to explore our entire catalog. Most of it should age quite well. The podcast was started in 2011 by Geoff Engelstein and Ryan Sturm, with Mike Fitzgerald taking over for Ryan in 2015. Gil and Scott joined the show in 2017 when Mike stepped aside, and Emma joined in 2019 when Geoff ended his tenure as host. Emma left in 2021, and Erica and Sen joined us. Since then, Scott stepped down in 2022 and Gil will be hanging up his mic in 2023, leaving Erica and Sen to carry on this amazing legacy.

    Erica and Sen are working to bring new voices to Ludology and have some great things to announce as gaming expands to include even more people!

    Contact Us 

    Have your own thoughts about our topics? We encourage you to visit us at our guild on Boardgamegeek to get involved in a continuing discussion.

    You can also email us at hello@ludology.net.

    Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.

    If you have questions that you’d like answered on Ludology, let us know by filling out this Google Form; you can also leave an audio question that we can use on the show, if you wish! 

    Burning Questions for Ludology

    Burning Question

    Support the Show

    Ludology is made possible through the support and donations of listeners like you.

    We currently have 3 “First Listen” series that will go out to Patrons well in advance of the audio being released to the wider audience.

    • The Memories that Made Us (monthly) – memories about gaming experiences that helped shape the people that bring modern games to life
    • Tales from the Designer Toolbox (monthly) – tips and tricks from industry pros learned from both success and failure
    • Ludology Live – recordings from conventions around the world

    Patrons will also get extra consideration for any giveaways that we might have!

    Become a Ludology Patron

    Become a patron

    You can also make a one-time or monthly donation here. The link will take you to Erica’s account. People who donate in this way will not have access to the Patreon page – sorry!





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  • What to Buy in Crystal of Atlan – Best Purchases & Spending Guide

    What to Buy in Crystal of Atlan – Best Purchases & Spending Guide


    Crystal of Atlan town with a view of a few stalls and merchants

    Screenshot by The Escapist

    Image of Aleksandar Perisic

    |

    Published: May 28, 2025 12:31 pm

    Crystal of Atlan is the new free-to-play MMORPG that just launched globally, and everyone’s already busy learning the ropes of each class and getting to the endgame. Of course, being free-to-play doesn’t mean the game doesn’t expect you to swipe your card every now and then. Since you are reading this, chances are you are considering buying something in the game but aren’t sure if it’s worth it. We know the feeling, and that’s exactly why we made this what to buy in Crystal of Atlan guide.

    What Can You Buy in Crystal of Atlan

    Opal store in Crystal of Atlan
    Screenshot by The Escapist

    Here’s everything you’re able to buy with real money in Crystal of Atlan:

    • Vouchers
    • Opals
    • Phantasium Passes

    Vouchers are used to buy different packs and can even be exchanged for the Phantasium Pass. With Vouchers, you’re usually aiming to buy more than one thing at once. Vouchers range from $0.99 all the way to $999

    Opal is something of a default premium currency in Crystal of Atlan, and it’s used for buying individual items and other currencies. A lot of the stuff you can buy with Opals, you can get from Voucher packs. This is also the main currency you’ll use to buy Gacha pulls. There is also a non-premium version of Opal called Prismadium (it’s the same as Opal, only earned by playing the game). Again, the amount of Opals you buy ranges from $0.99 all the way up to $999.

    Prismadium Pass is the game’s non-recurring monthly subscription. You can buy the 15 ($2.69) or the 30-day ($4.69) pass. You can also buy Vouchers and redeem them for either pass while in the game.

    What Not to Buy in Crystal of Atlan

    A Crystal of Atlan Gacha page
    Screenshot by The Escapist

    Here are the things we think aren’t worth buying in Crystal of Atlan using any of the currencies above:

    • Batteries – Batteries restore your character and account stamina. You get these from random item loot boxes but, honestly, even if you could buy them in bulks, they just wouldn’t be worth it.
    • Revival Capsules – The game hands these out quite often, and it’s better to save them, than use them. Most of the time, it’s better to just die and restart a mission if you’re struggling. The game is easy enough, so you likely won’t start dying until you reach end-game, and even when you do, it’s better just not to spend Opals or Prismadiums on these items.
    • Maltz’s Special Injection – Like with Revive Capsules, the game will hand them out often. Save them for really tough end-game bosses and even then use them sparingly.
    • Rank A Outfits – In the Outfit section, you’ll have a few Rank A Outfits that don’t cost a lot of money. Avoid these, unless you really like the cosmetic look. Outfits do actually improve your stats, and since you’ll want the best one, there’s no need to buy A rank outfits when S rank are available too.
    • Buying Opals for Gacha pulls – Crystal of Atlan gives you plenty of ways to earn Gacha pulls and Prismadium. Because of this, there isn’t a real need to spend money for extra pulls, when you can just use what you earn by playing to get them. So, just play the game a bit more, and you should earn more than enough non-premium currency for the Gachas.

    Things Worth Buying in Crystal of Atlan

    Crystal of Atlan Phantasium Pass
    Screenshot by The Escapist
    • Prismadium Pass – This non-recurring subscription is absolutely worth it if you’re planning to play the game for a good while. Firstly, it immediately gives you 150 or 300 Opal, depending on how many days you bought. Secondly, it gives you so many daily benefits such as: daily chests and daily Prismadium, an increases your daily energy cap, free Double Potions, free Abyss Runs, the ability to acquire skills faster, faster EXP gain, lower fees when using the Trading House, extra Gold gain, and additional Trading House listing Slots. The value is amazing, but only if you’re planning to play Crystal of Atlan daily.
    • Resource Packs – The Resource packs usually give you more value than the individual items are worth. The only problem is, you are usually limited to buying one of each packs. These aren’t super valuable like the Prismadium Pass, but are great if you were planning to spend a bit more money anyway.
    • Premium Adventurer’s Manual – This is Crystal of Atlan’s Battle Pass. As you complete daily, weekly, and seasonal quests you’ll unlock both free and premium rewards. This is worth getting if you are planning to play the game on a daily basis. We definitely recommend the regular Adventurer’s Manual. The Collector’s one is only worth it if you REALLY want the extra cosmetics.

    The rest is up to you. We hope our recommendation gives you a better idea on what you should and shouldn’t buy if you’re planning to play Crystal of Atlan. Have fun and if you haven’t decided on your class yet, check out our Ultimate Crystal of Atlan Class Tier List.

    The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy



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  • Ludology: TTRPGKids Ep 21

    Ludology: TTRPGKids Ep 21


    Welcome!

    Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the hows and whys of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, as well as discuss game history, game design and game players.

    We post a new Ludology episode every other week. In these episodes, hosts Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim deep-dive into a single topic within game design, often with a well-regarded guest from the game industry. We generally focus on tabletop game design (mainly board games and RPGs), but we often pull in experts from all forms of games, from video games to escape rooms to slot machines.

    On weeks where there is no flagship Ludology episode, we will alternate between two smaller mini-sodes. Erica and Sen are happy to announce that Sarah Shipp of Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell of TTRPGKids will be joining us for the next year, providing additional content between our longer episodes.

    Sarah’s segment, Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, is a monthly feature that dives deeper into the other aspects of games beyond the dice and cards we’re all familiar with.

    Stephanie’s segment, TTRPGKids, explores how parents and teachers can use role playing games with children in the home and in the classroom.

    We hope you enjoy the additional content!

    Our History

    We aim for most Ludology episodes to be timeless, so you are welcome to explore our entire catalog. Most of it should age quite well. The podcast was started in 2011 by Geoff Engelstein and Ryan Sturm, with Mike Fitzgerald taking over for Ryan in 2015. Gil and Scott joined the show in 2017 when Mike stepped aside, and Emma joined in 2019 when Geoff ended his tenure as host. Emma left in 2021, and Erica and Sen joined us. Since then, Scott stepped down in 2022 and Gil will be hanging up his mic in 2023, leaving Erica and Sen to carry on this amazing legacy.

    Erica and Sen are working to bring new voices to Ludology and have some great things to announce as gaming expands to include even more people!

    Contact Us 

    Have your own thoughts about our topics? We encourage you to visit us at our guild on Boardgamegeek to get involved in a continuing discussion.

    You can also email us at hello@ludology.net.

    Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.

    If you have questions that you’d like answered on Ludology, let us know by filling out this Google Form; you can also leave an audio question that we can use on the show, if you wish! 

    Burning Questions for Ludology

    Burning Question

    Support the Show

    Ludology is made possible through the support and donations of listeners like you.

    We currently have 3 “First Listen” series that will go out to Patrons well in advance of the audio being released to the wider audience.

    • The Memories that Made Us (monthly) – memories about gaming experiences that helped shape the people that bring modern games to life
    • Tales from the Designer Toolbox (monthly) – tips and tricks from industry pros learned from both success and failure
    • Ludology Live – recordings from conventions around the world

    Patrons will also get extra consideration for any giveaways that we might have!

    Become a Ludology Patron

    Become a patron

    You can also make a one-time or monthly donation here. The link will take you to Erica’s account. People who donate in this way will not have access to the Patreon page – sorry!





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  • Grab an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for a bargain price, if you’re in the UK

    Grab an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for a bargain price, if you’re in the UK



    While GPU prices are a bit of a lottery in the US right now, PC gamers in the UK are often enjoying plentiful stock and falling prices. The latest new GPU to get a price drop is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, which is currently going for just £379.99 at Overclockers, saving you £20 on the MSRP, and enabling you to pick up a decent graphics card with plenty of VRAM.

    I recently tested this GPU for my Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti review, and found that in some ways it was an even better buy than the more expensive RTX 5070, thanks to its extra 4GB of VRAM. This Nvidia GPU already offers reasonable value at MSRP, but it’s a really good deal for £379.99, especially for the 16GB version. There’s now competition from the cheaper AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, of course, but the Nvidia GPU is quicker, and worth the extra money at this price.

    One of the main benefits of this GPU, of course, is its support for the Nvidia DLSS 4 ecosystem, with the latest upscaling tech now featuring in many of the latest games, much more so than AMD’s competing FSR 4 tech, and enables you to vastly improve the frame rates in your games with minimal impact on image quality. In particular, new games such as Doom The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle run great on the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, and you can even get them running at 2,560 x 1,440 as well as 1,920 x 1,080.

    You can also happily max out demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077 on this GPU, including the full Overdrive ray tracing mode. In my tests, I found you could enable this setting at 1080p, then enable DLSS on the Quality setting (which still looks great with DLSS 4), and it would average 56fps. That’s a solid enough starting point to then enable Nvidia’s new multi frame gen tech, which uses AI to insert extra frames between the ones rendered by your GPU, pushing the average frame rate all the way up to 179fps.

    Best of all, though, is the price of £379.99, which is great value for this GPU with 16GB of memory, buying you a Gainward RTX 5060 Ti Python III card. You just need to click on this link here to take you to the deal.

    If you can’t quite run to that price, you can still buy an AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB for £314.99 from the same retailer. It’s not as fast as the RTX 5060 Ti, but it’s still a big upgrade over the RTX 5060, and a decent GPU for the money. Check out my AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT review to see how the competition copes with our game benchmark suite.

    For more GPU buying advice, check out our guide to the best graphics card, where we run you through all our favorite options right now, as well as our GPU install guide, which takes you through the graphics card upgrade process.

    You can also follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. In addition, we have a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.



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